White House suspends CNN reporter's "press pass" after feisty exchange with President Trump

CNN reporter Jim Acosta has had his press pass suspended by the White House following a tense exchange with President Donald Trump during a press conference on Wednesday -one day after the US midterm election.

Trump during the exchange, called Acosta with whom he has had several disagreements with "rude, terrible person," after the White House

correspondent refused the president's orders to sit down.

A statement release the White House Press Secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, on twitter -just hours after the incident- said:

"President Trump believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his Administration. We will, however, never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern."

"This conduct is absolutely unacceptable. It is also completely disrespectful to the reporter’s colleagues not to allow them an opportunity to ask a question. President Trump has given the press more access than any President in history."

"Contrary to CNN’s assertions there is no greater demonstration of the President’s support for a free press than the event he held today. Only they would attack the President for not supporting a free press in the midst of him taking 68 questions from 35 different reporters over the course of 1.5 hours including several from the reporter in question."

"The fact that CNN is proud of the way their employee behaved is not only disgusting, it‘s an example of their outrageous disregard for everyone, including young women, who work in this Administration."

"As a result of today’s incident, the White House is suspending the hard pass of the reporter involved until further notice."

After circulation of Acosta's suspension, several reporters and fellow White Corespondents gave him their support and the White House Correspondents Association called action “out of line to the purported offense” and urged that Acosta’s press pass be restored.